The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-11-29
CHURCH AND BUSINESS.


EDITOR BULLrrN:-Among the
large congregation who had the
pleasure OF hearing the sermon
preached 10y Rev. DR.. Beckwith last
Sabbath evening, at the Central
Union Church, there were many who
could have solved the problem pro-
posed by the Rev. gentleman, and
which seemed to puzzle his learned
mind, viz. : GLOW Christian men
can go to their shops and counting
rooms on rainy days, and not so 10
church as well in stormy weather"
II the pastor were preaching only to
bankers, capitalists and we'll to do
merchants, his query and his argu-
ments in connection with it, have a
fair application. But, as it too
often the case with popular clergy
men, he seemed to forget that large
class who are doomed to toll at hard
physical labor from GO to 20 hours
each week, standing upon their feet
from Q to ~ hours per day for six
consecutive days, in order to earn a
sufficient sum to pay for the bare
necessities of life, finding themselves
on Saturday night so completely worn
and iaded, that they feel obliged to
seize the only day left them by di-
vine command, in which to recupe-
rate their mental and physical ener-
gies, in order that they may be able
on Monday morning to step again
upon the treadmill, and so on and
on, until death, or old age and
worthlessness, comes to emancpatc
them. will not speak of that great
army of toilers, usually termed
common laborers, but of the average
first class mechanic who earns 81 per
day. If business is dull as at pre-
sent in this city, he thinks himself
fortunate if he has employment one
half of the time, which means one
half pay, for it must be remembered
that this large class are paid only
for the hours they work.
If there is no work, there is no
pay. If he is i'll, he draws no pay.
If he desires to attend the funeral of
his neighbor or his friend, just so
many hours as he may be absent
from his bench or his forge, just
that much must be deducted from
bis weekly earnings, out of which
must be paid every expense Incl
dent to living and rearing family
house rent, supplies, clothing, few
books and papers, and score of
lesser claims not down in TIE bill,
but constantly presenting them
selves to those whose hearts are
open to the numberless calls for
help from the poor. But how about
the pastor? His salary is from $40
to S12 per day seven days each
week, and 80 weeks each year. He
stands upon his feet two, perhaps
three hours each week. That done,
he can sit, walk or ride as lie pre-
fers. Is he i'll, his place is supplied
by another, but nothing is deducted
from his pay. He is expected to
take from one to three months dur
ing the heated term, for rest, to re-
turn fresh and buoyant for his
work, after drawing his full salary
to date. Is it wonder that he can
look back over nearly generation,
and say that never has he been alb
sent from his place in church on ac-
count of stormy weather.
DR.. Beckwith preached last Sabbath
evening to many faithful disciples
of the Master, who are not only
willing but eager to listen to their
pastor but who during the recent
storms could not have heard him
except they sat with wet feet and
clothing drenched, for the simple
reason that they have not the
means to keep horse and carriage,
and servant to care for such lux
ury, nor are they able to hire trans
portation to and from their homes.
l am not GROWER. only wish to
remind our pastor. that vacant sit
tings in church on rainy days, do
not, always mean lukewarmness,
nor foroatfnlnace IF that individual